---
title: "James M. Candelaria | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-08"
---

# James M. Candelaria

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado · U.S. Magistrate Judge

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- State: Colorado
- Role: U.S. Magistrate Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Chief, U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Colorado - Durango Office, 2016–2019-01
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office - District of Colorado, 2001–2016
- Law Clerk, Colorado Supreme Court, 1998–1999 (to Gregory Scott)

### Education


### Additional information

- Magistrate, District Court, D. Colorado, 2019-present
- Resident Legal Advisor, Jamaica, 2015–2015
- Resident Legal Advisor, Republic of Zambia, 2008–2010
- Practitioner, 1999–2001, Denver, CO
- J.D. — Univ. of Denver — 1997
- B.B.A. — Metropolitan State Univ. of Denver — 1990
- Birth place: Durango, CO

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### civil remote testimony

Scope: courtwide

In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.

Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.

[Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### criminal recording and broadcasting

Scope: courtwide

Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.

Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.

[Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=108)
- [Official roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=108)
- [U.S. Courts judicial profile or roster](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=108)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9115/james-m-candelaria/)
- [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure)
- [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9115/james-m-candelaria/)
- [BR/MAG Judge Database: James Michael Candelaria](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9115/james-m-candelaria/)
- [BR/MAG Judge Database: James Michael Candelaria](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate",
      "name": "James M. Candelaria | KnowJudges",
      "description": "James M. Candelaria, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-08",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate#judge",
      "name": "James M. Candelaria",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate",
      "jobTitle": "U.S. Magistrate Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/cjra_na_0331.2026.pdf#page=108",
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9115/james-m-candelaria/"
      ],
      "birthPlace": "Durango, CO",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Metropolitan State Univ. of Denver"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Univ. of Denver"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Colorado",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/colorado"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "James M. Candelaria",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-m-candelaria-colorado-us-magistrate"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```


## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
